Citizens Advice, the national advice charity, celebrates its 85th birthday on 4th September 2024. The charity was set up at the outbreak of World War Two as a new nationwide advisory service to help people navigate the uncertainty and challenges of life during wartime. The Newbury branch of Citizens Advice was established in September 1939 to help people with issues like rationing, evacuation and bomb damage.
Isabel Esperança, Chief Officer of CAWB, explained: “Citizens Advice was set up in a time of national emergency, and its survival 85 years later is a real testament to the ongoing need for a free, independent and confidential advice service. Our logo and name might have changed in 85 years, but our purpose hasn’t. We’re still the people’s champion.”
However, the advice charity warns that its services are coming under strain as the ongoing cost of living crisis puts intolerable pressures on households.
“People across our community are struggling with the ongoing cost of living crisis,” Isabel continued. “Too many are barely treading water, unable to move forward with their lives, and constantly worried about the next bill dragging them under completely. Increasingly, we are seeing people with negative budgets where their income can’t cover essential costs like heating and rent. In the Newbury parliamentary constituency alone, there are 5,400 people living in negative budgets. The strain on households is immense and, increasingly, people in full-time work come to us for advice.
“Over the last year, Citizens Advice West Berkshire provided crucial support to almost 2,000 clients, tackling over 10,000 issues. We secured more than half a million pounds in financial outcomes for our clients. I would like to thank all our dedicated staff and volunteers for their commitment to ensuring that our clients had the information and help they required when they needed it. We are grateful to our primary funders, West Berkshire Council and Greenham Trust, for their continued support. We’d also like to thank all our other funders, whose support is invaluable.
“We know that more people than ever need our help, with our enquiries up by almost 30% on the previous year. That’s why we are expanding our capacity to help people. Thanks to generous funding from the National Lottery and others, we have increased our office space, significantly improved our IT system, and have recruited more volunteer advisers. Whoever you are, whatever your problem – we’re ready to help you with free, impartial advice.”
If you would like to support its work, donations can be made at
https://app.thegoodexchange.com/project/20604/citizens-advice-west-berkshire/advice-4-all-2024-25
Greenham Trust will match-fund the first £5,000 raised
